Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Oct 2014
Review Meta AnalysisThe use of pneumatic tourniquet in total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis.
Pneumatic tourniquet use in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is always a controversial issue. The aim of the present study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of its use in patients receiving primary unilateral TKA, and to explore the most safe and effective protocols. ⋯ Our results indicate that tourniquet application could reduce surgical time, intraoperative blood loss and total blood loss, but increases postoperative total blood loss. With respect to postoperative complications, DVT and surgical site infection rates are relatively augmented in the tourniquet group.